🌱 Historic Site Gets $4M + 8 LOTTO Gang Members Arrested

Hello all. It's me, Lauren Kubiak, your host of the Atlanta Patch newsletter. Let's get this day started off right with a quick dive into the most important things happening in town these days, including updates on:

• A national historic site in Atlanta received $4 million
• Eight were taken into custody in connection with LOTTO gang
• Tyler Perry donates $2.75 million to senior residents

But first, today's weather:

Rain and drizzle. High: 58 Low: 29.

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Here are the top five stories today in Atlanta:

1. West Hunter Street Baptist Church, one of Atlanta's most significant landmarks from the Civil Rights Movement, received $4 million in funding. The money will be used for furnishing the sanctuary and offices, similar to how it looked when Ralph David Abernathy Sr. preached during the Civil Rights Movement. (WSB Atlanta)
2. According to Attorney General Chris Carr, eight people were indicted for being Last One to Take Over (LOTTO) gang members on Thursday. Those arrested were from Gwinnett, DeKalb, Fulton, and Monroe counties and conducted 41 criminal acts that occurred between October 2021 and July 2022. LOTTO is also known as the 30 percent gang and is a "hybrid criminal street gang with origins in the Gangster Disciples and Crips national gangs." The arrestees were accused of trafficking four women and a female adolescent and of trying to recruit people to join LOTTO. (Atlanta Patch)
3. Actor, filmmaker, and studio owner Tyler Perry made a substantial donation of $2.75 million to prevent senior citizen homeowners from being displaced in Atlanta. The grant will assist the city's low-income senior residents in combating rising property taxes. A portion of the funds ($750,000) will pay back property taxes for 300 low-income seniors. (WSB Atlanta)
4. Are you looking to fill your social calendar this weekend? Check out the list of events happening in and around Atlanta this weekend at the link, including Mardi Gras celebrations, annual runs, and even Arbor Day Tree Planting! (Subscription: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
5. The nonprofit Extra Special People (ESP) raised over $1 million through its three-part fundraiser "2023 Big Hearts Experience," which funds ESP's mission of creating "transformative experiences for people with disabilities and their families." The three special events included a special needs talent show on Jan. 20, a national broadcast of the talent show on Feb. 5, and a black-tie gala and silent auction on Feb. 11. (Northwest Georgia News)

Today in Atlanta:

• The Hot Wing King In Support Of AID Atlanta At Alliance Theatre (8:00 PM)
• Downtown Development Authority Meeting (Virtual) Hosted By City Of South Fulton (11:00 AM)
• Robin Fierce From RuPaul’s Drag Race At X Midtown (8:00 PM)
• The Secret Show At Village Theatre (8:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Are you looking for a new family member with four paws? Check out the list of adoption-ready pets in the Atlanta area at the link! (Atlanta Patch)
• NFL Hall-of-Famer Jerome Bettis' Atlanta home is on the market and costs a pretty penny. The Buckhead mansion is listed for $6.35 million. (Subscription: The Business Journals)
• Rotisserie chicken-based eatery Nani's Piri Piri Chicken at Ponce City Market is set to close on Feb. 28 after the owners announced they want to center their attention and resources on their Indian street food eateries. (Atlanta Patch)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• AID Atlanta Night @ The Hot Wing King (February 17)
• Anna Razumovskaya Artist Show (February 18)
• Atlanta Dogwood Festival Run for the Arts 5K (February 18)
• Atlanta Caribbean Lions Annual Fundraising Dinner & Gala (February 18)
• Pretty in Pink Noche Caliente Latin Night Atlanta @ Tonys Johns Creek Sat Feb 18, 2023 (February 18)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (February 20)
• Ash Wednesday Service (February 22)
• BJ's Wholesale Club Pre-opening Limited-time Offer (February 23)
• LiveLifeFun Sand Volleyball Leagues - Registration Deadline March 2nd (March 2)
• Online Event about our services in the Atlanta area (March 4)
• PRIDE Kickball Spring '23 League - Registration Deadline March 9th (March 9)
• GO Kickball Spring Leagues - Registration Deadline March 9th (March 9)
• Add your event

You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is a freelance copywriter for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. She is a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.